Patent GB-1483411-A (GB)
Title: Finishing machines and processes
IPC: B24B31/06
Filed: 1974-11-11
Abstract: 1483411 Tumbling ROTO-FINISH CO 11 Nov 1974 [12 Nov 1973] 48753/74 Heading B3D A process for finishing a part or parts in a finishing chamber comprises maintaining said part or parts and finishing material in a compartment defined by part-isolating means disposed within the chamber, imparting movement to the chamber to cause the parts to be finished by interaction with the finishing material and to cause the part or parts to move along the chamber to a discharge zone having separation means therein, the part-isolating means and the boundaries of the compartment being permitted to move freely along the chamber with the parts, separating the finishing material by the separation means, and discharging the part or parts. In apparatus for carrying out the process, an annular finishing chamber 39 in the form of a single turn helix is mounted on an assembly 21 having an outer wall 35 and inner wall 46 which forms part of a gyratory motionproducing assembly 22. The assemblies are supported by springs 17 or resilient material from a base 11, and the assembly 22 consists of a pair of eccentric or unbalance weights 55, 56, which may be in or out of phase, on a shaft 54 supported by bearing plates 50, 52 in the wall 46. A motor 59 is mounted on the outer surface of wall 46 and is connected by a belt drive 64 to the shaft 54. A pedestal 65 is mounted on the wall 46 and has a spindle on which a turntable 66 is rotatably mounted. Arms 68, ... 71 extend from the turntable and have guide bushes 82, ... 85 which slidably receive rods 78, ... 81 of partitions or separators 74, ... 77 which form the part isolating means in the finishing chamber. A rail 86 may be provided for guiding the bottoms of the partitions along the bottom of the chamber and over a foraminous separating screen 87. A door 89 can be opened at the end of the finishing operation for permitting discharge of the parts through an exit port 88. Magnetic or vacuum separating means may replace the screen 87. The partitions prevent the parts colliding with one another and thereby being damaged and move freely with the parts in the finishing chamber. In another embodiment, the finishing chamber 414, Fig. 5, is linear and vibrated by weights 417, 418 on a motor 416. The chamber is divided into compartments by partitions 419 which isolate a part or parts in one compartment from those in another so that they do not damage one another. The partitions are carried by a chain 420 which is of a construction such that upper runs are self-supporting and do not need rollers or the like. In operation, the motion imparted to the parts moves them along the chamber and they bear against the partitions 419 which are thereby also moved along the chamber. At the forward end of the chamber, the partitions engage a ramp 421 having a screen through which the finishing material falls and is returned through duct 423 and opening 424 to the chamber. In other embodiments, the partitions are supported by coil springs, are pivotally mounted, resilient, and may be foraminous to permit passage of the finishing material but not the parts. The partitions may be mounted on rods having rollers guided in tracks so as to rise and fall. The movement of the partitions may be controlled by a timing mechanism so as to be retarded or stopped relative to the movement of the finishing material to control the processing time.